I only managed to review seven books last month. From five countries. No new publishers. It was a month that saws the Man Booker longlist come out. I have reviewed four of the books so far and I have read all but two of the books. It has been an odd month I had the time off work on a holiday. But the 22nd of this month it was a year since my Mum Passed and from Mothers day on the 11th of March. Meant the month has left me feeling rather down. I so miss my mum, even thou we were living a distance from each other. She was always there when I need her. The loss of that safety net has meant at times I haven’t had a confidant to turn to someone for advice about life and what I should do sometimes. She enjoyed the fact I had a blog. Mum always encouraged me in reading, when I was young. So even thou I have read a number of books this month I just haven’t been inclined to review them. There is a hole in my mind at the moment which I need to fill and get back on track as I am struggling to focus at times. I will decide then whether to just scrap reviewing the other man booker books I read and just carry on when a book really grabs me. I was initially excited by the long list. Thou as time has moved on. I maybe would be been best trying a few rather than setting the bar too high for me as a reader. The same is to be said for Italian lit month which I was really looking forward to but have decided to carry on to April I am away for a week at the beginning of the month ad Amanda and I go back to Torquay for the first time since our honeymoon I really feel this may be what I need being sat at home off work for a couple of weeks just dwelling on the past wasn’t the best thing to do.
Book of the month- The white book
I would have read this at some point as the concept of the book was one that appealed I love list and works that have a certain amount of digression in them. Also a book about death was touching to me as a reader last month and I had so many echoes of the past and my own experiences with death.
So lets hope next month is more of one to sing about.
Sorry to feel you’ve been feeling a bit down, Stu. It must be hard missing your mum. It will take time to heal. Hopefully your trip away will give you new things to focus on and enjoy, sometimes a change of scenery is good for the mind and the soul x
Yes I’m hoping so just being first year was so hard
The good news is you got through it. Stay strong.
Sorry you’ve had such an emotional month Stu. The first anniversaries of things are always the worst (I was the same with my Dad). Hope that getting away for a break helps you.
Me too hopefully be less so next year
Losing a parent is rough. My dad passed a few years back, and I certainly still have periods where I feel a bit down. I think it’s healthy to allow yourself those moments, though.
Seven reviews, by my admittedly low standards, still makes a decent month!